“Brussels; a city of beer, waffles and frites”.
Believe the clichés, these are in full abundance and beloved by Belgians and tourists alike. However spend a little more time in this beautiful city and you’ll find there is so much more to the capital of Belgium.
Visit the stunning Grand Place and take in the gorgeous architecture, before walking the short distance to see possibly the most famous of Brussel’s sights, the Manneken Pis, grabbing a Belgian waffle along the way. A small statue of a young boy urinating into a fountain’s basin, he has become famous worldwide and will occasionally don various costumes to celebrate different occasions – previous outfits have included Dracula, a fireman and a British Queen’s guard. Wandering back to the Grand Place, you can visit the Museum of the City of Brussels, in which lies the dressing room of the Manneken Pis – where all of his previous outfits are displayed, and it’s well worth a look – especially on the first Sunday of each month, when entrance is free!
Stay in an apartment near the Grand Place, soak up the buzzing atmosphere of Delirium café in the evening and choose from a selection of over 3,000 beers; with a multitude of both regular and fruit flavours including passion fruit, banana and raspberry, there is something for everyone! You can also find the Jeanneke Pis, the lesser known female equivalent of the Manneken Pis, just opposite the entrance.
If shopping is more your thing, head down Rue Neuve – Brussels’ answer to Oxford Street, lined with all the big high street names. For a more alternative experience, a flea market is held every weekend at Place Jeu de Balle – be prepared to really search for that elusive bargain though! On a neighbouring street lies one of the most special shops in all of Brussels; Melting Pot Kilo. This is a real treasure trove where clothes are sold by weight! Continuing on the vintage theme, every first Sunday of the month a vintage market is held in central Brussels. Halles St Géry hosts a wealth of stalls selling everything from second hand Levi cut-offs to cupcakes and beer.
After a hard day’s sightseeing, relax with an indulgent hot chocolate at Neuhaus in Galerie de la Reine. Served in a teapot, with fresh whipped cream on the side, it’s like drinking rich melted chocolate. A truly luxurious experience! Maison Renardy, near Porte de Namur, serves an equally great selection of drinks and has a more personal feel; a family run business, this tiny tearoom is a hidden gem.
Brussels has a several great viewpoints. The Mont des Arts offers stunning views of the spires of the Grand Place as well as a lovely garden to walk through. Alternatively, the Palais de Justice is itself stunning to look at with it’s gold roof (although permanently under construction) and from here you can see an amazing panoramic view of the whole of Brussels.
If you’re on a quest for the famous Belgian frites, look no further than “Frit Flagey”, located at Place Flagey in the Ixelles district. It is very popular with both locals and tourists for good reason – it serves hot, fluffy and crispy chips with amazing mayonnaise. Make sure to go on a nice day as you have no choice but to sit outside! Alternatively, try Maison Antoine, just a stone’s throw away at Place Jourdan. Here, you can take your fries into any one of the ‘fry friendly’ bars and cafés dotted around the frite stand. For something a little bit different, Makisu is a small and incredibly popular sushi café placed just off Avenue Louise – offering a very good value selection or even a create-your-own option, which is highly recommended!
Brussels: culture, shopping, food and drink all rolled into one…what more could you want!
Photo Credits:
Alex Mackintosh